2021 Book Recap

It’s that time again for my annual review of the books I read in 2021. For those of you who may be new around here the way I do this is I give every book I read a rating of 1-10 with 10 being the best of the BEST and 1 being AWFUL. I also rank my top three books from 3 to 1 and link everything up for you on Amazon just click the title to access the book.

This year I read a total of 23 books though one of them I forgot to write the title down on and now for the life of my can’t remember what it was called or who it was by….obviously it was not memorable so I’m just going to leave it off….HA.

I am also going to do something a bit different this year because my I have a non fiction and a fiction favorite for #1 and #2 and both the non fictions are homeschool books which will not apply to everyone so I am going to list both my favorite fiction and favorite non fiction… So without further ado my favorite books of the year are….

#3) Once in Every Life by Kristin Hannah

You guys know that Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and she did it again in this awesome story. Without giving to much away a lady dies but comes back as a mom in Pioneer times and boy is it good.

#2) The Return by Nicholas Sparks

I’m honestly surprised a Nicholas Sparks book made it this high on the list. I used to be a huge fan a long time ago after reading The Notebook and while I always enjoy his books they haven’t made it in the top 5 in a LONG time. This book though was AWESOME. It was unlike most of his books in a lot of ways and kept me guessing. I highly recommend it.

#2) NON-FICTION PICK: Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie

This book although very short and sweet was packed full of scripture and changed my entire perspective on the word “rest.” It is because of this book that I have chosen the word “rest” as my word of 2022 and is now the home I aspire to be (I loved her practical ways for talking through what rest truly is and how it looks in a house full of toddlers, babies, and noise).

#1) FICTION PICK: The Water Keeper by Charles Martin

Another one of my favorite authors this story was awesome! It’s all about a man with a bit of a past that goes to extreme lengths to save sex trafficked girls. I couldn’t put it down.

#1) NON-FICTION PICK: Homeschool Bravely by Jamie Erickson

This was a game changer book for me. If you homeschool or are considering homeschooling READ it. That’s all.

Other books I read this year that were really good and I would recommend (I ranked these out of 10):

Layla by Colleen Hoover 8/10

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand 7/10

I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes 8/10

Verity by Colleen Hoover 8/10

Where the River Ends by Charles Martin 7/10

Night Road by Kristin Hannah 8/10

The Memory by Lucy Dawson 8/10

Four Winds by Kristin Hannah 7/10

Thunder and Rain by Charles Martin 8/10

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave 8/10

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand 8/10

In 5 Years by Rebecca Serle 8/10

Comfort and Joy by Kristin Hannah 9/10 – the PERFECT Christmas read

Books I read his year that I would still recommend but didn’t make my top list:

The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart 6/10

Girls Like Us by Cristina Alger 6/10

True Colors 6/10 by Kristin Hannah

In His Father’s Footsteps by Danielle Stella 6/10